Efficacy of metformin on different adipocytokines in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a major medical condition that constitutes a significant financial burden on most healthcare systems. Objective: The current research aimed to evaluate the antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antihyperlipidemic effects of 500 mg metformin twice daily for 6 months on various adipocytokines in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Patients and methods: The participants in this study were divided into three groups: the control, the untreated diabetic, and the metformin-treated diabetic groups. Results and conclusion: Metformin treatment significantly improved the poor oral glucose tolerance and the lowered serum levels of insulin and C-peptide with subsequent better homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance and sensitivity and β-cell function results. Moreover, metformin treatment significantly decreased the elevated serum levels of glycosylated hemoglobin, high, low, and very low-density lipoproteins, adipokines (visfatin and resistin), and retinol-binding protein-4 expression, with a significant increase in total cholesterol and triglycerides. Metformin also reduced the proinflammatory cytokine expressions (interleukin-1β, interferon-γ, and tumor-necrosis factor-α). In conclusion, metformin can alleviate adipocytokines through anti-inflammatory effects, synergizing with its antidiabetic actions.